Free-to-view
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Free to view is a term used for certain channels on the Sky Digital platform which require a working VideoGuard viewing card but do not require any form of subscription. This system is used to ensure that commercial free stations such as ITV1 and Channel 4 are only available in the United Kingdom and not the Republic of Ireland which is covered by the same satellites, or in spillover areas such as northern France. The system also helps ensure that the correct regional TV output is seen, based on the postcode given when obtaining the box.
Free to view channels can be viewed with a dark blue Sky viewing card, be it one provided by the FreeSat scheme, one from British Telecoms former Solus scheme, or an inactive former Sky card. All active Sky cards get the channels that are part of their subscription package. A Sky decoder box is required due to the lack of VideoGuard Conditional Access Modules.
This system contrasts to free to air, which is when the signal is sent in the clear and is available for all to see with any DVB-S decoder. Over 100 channels are free to air.
Four channels are currently free to view - ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4 and five. ITV has stated its intentions to go free to air in the near future, and has launched its newest channel, ITV3 in the clear. Channel 4 are tied until 2009 to broadcasting free to view.
Outside the UK, other public service broadcasters (for example those of Switzerland and the Netherlands run a similar scheme using different encryption methods.
